Little Digger Track - Ku-ring-gai Council

“Little Digger”
Further Information
Little Digger Park, which lends its
name to the restored track, was named
in honour of William Morris Hughes.
Mr Hughes was a member of the first
Commonwealth Parliament and Prime
Minister of Australia from 1915 - 1923.
Urban Wildlife of New South Wales
edited by John Pastorelli
Collins A & R 1990
Burnum Burnum’s WILDthings around Sydney
by G Sainty, J Hoskins, P Abel, S Jacobs,
M Dalby-Ball, Sainty & Assoc 2000
Ku-ring-gai Council
Remember
• All flora, fauna and any natural or cultural
features are protected and should not be
removed or defaced.
• Pets must be leashed at all times, unless
in a leash free area.
• Keeping to the tracks will minimise soil
erosion and damage to the vegetation.
• Please use rubbish bins if provided, or
alternatively take your rubbish with you.
• Observe fire bans – do not smoke near
flammable vegetation.
• When passing near homes respect
residents’ privacy.
Following his term as Prime Minister he
continued as a member of Parliament,
holding the federal seat of Bradfield
from 1949 until his death in 1952. He
was a long time resident of the area.
He acquired the name “The Little
Digger” because of his association with
Australian troops during World War 1.
The Slouch Hat, with its side turned up,
became a readily identifiable symbol of
the Australian Army, the Diggers.
Public Transport
Information about public transport to
Little Digger Track can be obtained
by phoning Infoline on 131 500 from
6.00am to 10.00pm.
Native Plants of the Sydney District
by A Farley & P Moore, Kangaroo Press 1989
Ku-ring-gai Historical Society
phone (02) 9499 4568
Internet
http://go.to/moorescreektrack
Acknowledgments
Ku-ring-gai Council wishes to acknowledge
the assistance of:
• Moores Creek Bushcare Group
• The Centenary of Federation Trust for
their support and assistance in
restoring this track.
Enquiries
Ku-ring-gai Council
818 Pacific Highway
Gordon NSW 2072
Locked Bag 1056
Pymble NSW 2073
Phone (02) 9424 0000
Fax (02) 9424 0001
Email kmc@kmc.nsw.gov.au
Web www.kmc.nsw.gov.au
This brochure available at www.kmc.nsw.gov.au
Printed 2010
Little Digger Track
Roseville to Middle Harbour
via Moores Creek
Ku-ring-gai Walking Tracks

Little Digger Track
Little Digger Track is a one kilometre walk
that takes approximately 40 minutes to
complete. The track starts under the old oak
tree at the corner of Roseville Avenue and
Amarna Parade, Roseville, opposite the Little
Digger Park.
The track follows Moores Creek, skirting the
Roseville Golf Course, then descends into
the sandstone gully until it joins with the
Two Creeks Track which takes you to Middle
Harbour.
Sections of the track were originally built
to provide access to Roseville Baths in the
1920’s. After the closure of the baths in
1969 the track fell into disuse and became
overgrown with vegetation.
Thanks to funding from the Federal
Government through the Centenary of
Federation Trust, and support from the local
community, the track has been restored
and once more provides access to Middle
Harbour.
Features of the track include waterfalls,
rock pools and caves, remnants of rainforest
vegetation, mighty Sydney Red Gums
(Angophora costata), She Oaks (Casuarina
glauca) and many types of ferns.
Points of Interest
1 Roseville Golf Course was used by the
Australian Military during World War 1 as
a training camp for Army Engineers. The
engineers were trained in the construction
of trenches and timber bridges. Much of the
timber used for construction was obtained
from the local area.
2 Little Falls was aptly named due to the size of
the water fall.
3 Babbage Falls was named after Eden
Herschel Babbage who was a Ku-ring-gai
Council alderman. Mr Babbage was also well
known for his altruistic regard for his fellow
citizens and his dedicated efforts for the
establishment of Roseville Park.
4 Sandstone Steps are thought to have been
constructed in the 1930’s by works gangs
during the Great Depression as part of the
original walking track to the Roseville Baths.
5 Carlyle Falls was possibly names after the
English author and philosopher Thomas
Carlyle.
Map
4
3
2
5
The varied habitat is home to a large number
of Australian native animals including the
rare and threatened Powerful Owl (Ninox
strenua). Walking quietly you may see the
Eastern Water dragon (Physignathus lesueurii)
and hear the calls of frogs. Look up into the
brushy shrubs and you will see the homes
(dreys) of the shy ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus
peregrinus).
NORTH
0 300m
Scale
1
Photos: D. Wilks
Water Gum